Blade of Steel has no direct affiliation to the Toronto Maple Leafs, NHL or NHLPA
NHL Analyst Has an Interesting Theory For Why Auston Matthews & Mitch Marner Are Struggling
Photo credit: Imagn Images
Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner haven't been themselves as of late and the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to need to see an improvement very soon.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been up and down ever since the end of the 4 Nations Face-Off and fans have certainly noticed it.
Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner have been particularly disappointing, with the former failing to score any sort of meaningful goals down the stretch.
This is not what you want to see especially with the playoffs on the horizon and a lot riding on these final games of the year.
Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are not playing well
One NHL analyst believes he has the answer for why these Maple Leafs stars are struggling so mightily right now.
In the eyes of Justin Bourne, it all comes down to the 4 Nations Face-Off. According to his research, multiple players who went to the 4 Nations have been bad since coming back to their respective teams.
«Since the 4 Nations break, I see a team that came out of it with their top two players, Matthews and Marner, playing significantly worse than they did before the 4 Nations break. I see a team that is more top-heavy and built on the success of three or four players than any other team, and so they're more hurt by the lack of success from the top guys.
I did some research on two guys who went to the 4 Nations. A lot of the top guys have seen their production dip since, particularly the Canadian and American players who had the week-long build-up to two big games. They haven't been as good. It hurts the Leafs more than other teams that their top guys played in that event.
Matthews missed a game in that event. He wasn't right to begin with, and so I don't know if they're tired. I don't know if they're hurt. I don't know what it is. I don't know if it's contract stuff with Mitch. I don't know what. The two of them are not good right now, and so they're losing.»
I did some research on two guys who went to the 4 Nations. A lot of the top guys have seen their production dip since, particularly the Canadian and American players who had the week-long build-up to two big games. They haven't been as good. It hurts the Leafs more than other teams that their top guys played in that event.
Matthews missed a game in that event. He wasn't right to begin with, and so I don't know if they're tired. I don't know if they're hurt. I don't know what it is. I don't know if it's contract stuff with Mitch. I don't know what. The two of them are not good right now, and so they're losing.»
This really is not all that surprising especially when you consider how it was some of the most intense hockey of the entire NHL season.
However, the Leafs superstars need to get over it and start delivering some solid performances because that is what the fans are expecting.
A big stretch of the NHL season is upon us and fans cannot stand to go through any more heartbreak.
Only time will tell if the Toronto Maple Leafs can go on a nice run here to end the season.
| POLL | ||
MARS 15 | 136 ANSWERS NHL Analyst Has an Interesting Theory For Why Auston Matthews & Mitch Marner Are Struggling Do you believe Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner will get it together at the playoffs? | ||
| YES | 85 | 62.5 % |
| NO | 51 | 37.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
TRENDING NOW
